Ben Simmons traded the NBA for the open ocean and came away a champion. The South Florida Sails, the Sport Fishing Championship club he controls, captured the Blue Marlin Open at Walker's Cay in the Bahamas on Sunday. Simmons, who played seven seasons in the NBA after being drafted first overall by the 76ers in 2016, bought into the Sails in December 2025 and took the role of controlling owner.

Angler Alex Stanley drove the victory with blue marlin releases that opened the event's scoring. South Florida surged to the top of the leaderboard on Day 1 when Stanley landed a 450-point marlin, then built a commanding lead through Saturday. The club finished with 2,925 points, nearly 1,500 ahead of second-place New Jersey Sea Birds, securing the win comfortably on Day 3.

Simmons grew up fishing in Australia and told the SFC his investment reflected a passion for the sport. He joins other pro athletes who own SFC teams, including Scottie Scheffler, whose Texas Lone Stars won last fall's Zane Grey Championship Playoffs. Simmons' first event win as owner caps a remarkable pivot from elite basketball to elite sportfishing.